It was a pleasure to meet Buddhi de Mel, the very talented and modest frontman of Wagon Park for an interesting conversation about Wagon Park and their new Album ‘Get Stoned’.
The band members
Inception
Looking back over the years and the history of the band Wagon Park, Buddhi says it all started in 2007 when he first met Fira who is of Maldivian origin whilst in College. Strangely enough, the two got together on the very first day they met and started playing some music; Fira started playing Bob Marley tunes on Buddhi’s guitar while Buddhi played a song that he wrote during that time called “Jingy Bingy Blues” and clearly they understood the potential they held and from that day onwards the collaboration began, and they started to jam together forming an acoustic duo.
Later on the duo expanded to create a group with Maddha, Mahesh and Nuwan (also known as Chikka) joining in, who were known to Buddhi from a very long time since they were all from Moratuwa, their hometown. Buddhi says that these three were best suited to join in with Buddhi and Fira to form a band since they were musically talented in their own right.
With a band in place they started getting ready for TNL Onstage 2007. However they were missing a lead guitarist which is the most important sound for a rock group and a friend of Buddhi’s had recommended Milo, who happened to be a school mate of Buddhi’s and he fitted in perfectly to complete Wagon Park.
The band consisted of Buddhi being the frontman of Wagon Park who plays a bit of harmonica whilst being the songwriter and composer. Fira, the youngest member of the group was originally the bassist but is now a multi-instrumentalist. Maddha is the rhythm guitarist of the band who writes, sings and performs his own Sinhalese songs.
Mahesh is the drummer and percussionist of the band who happens to be also a tattoo artist and is considered quite a maniac according the band members. Milo, the lead guitarist of Wagon Park is also a composer and songwriter. Nuwan being the most experienced musician of the band, was originally the keyboardist but plays bass when needed.
‘Sri Lankan Blues Rock’
Something unique about the band is the genre of music played by Wagon Park, which is categorised as ‘Sri Lankan Blues Rock’ music, which is folk music being fused with classic Rock n Roll. We inquired from Buddhi as to how this sort of genre evolved, but Buddhi managed to give quite a modest answer by saying that they did not try to make it a particular genre but as a band they do love Rock n Roll and the life with music.
He says that when the band focused on the songs that they were to perform with a clear mind the songs ended up sounding different because all six of them had different tastes in music and their own style of playing music. In the end some songs had a touch of Baila, some a heavy sound while some a groovy side to it making the sound and style of every Wagon Park song unique from the sound of other bands.
All in a name
We had to ask Buddhi the story behind the name ‘Wagon Park’ and how they came up with it, and he says that just when he and Fira started the band and while taking a break from practising they were next to a car sale, and the showroom had a ‘car park’ sign and Fira suggested to name the band “Car Park” and at the very instant Buddhi had seen a ‘Volkswagen’ logo on the car park board and said; ‘Fira, why don’t we name our band Wagon Park?” and he had agreed instantly and thereafter the name Wagon Park was formed.
Onstage
In 2007, the band decided to participate in TNL Onstage and Buddhi says it was exciting indeed to bring out Wagon Park to the public in an event like TNL Onstage and it was a good platform for them to build a fan base. He however says that unfortunately, Wagon Park has no status in the Sri Lankan Music Industry and they do not seek a status as such, since they play music for the fans and what they expect in return is their enjoyment of the music, which is most valued than a status.
We asked Buddhi what Wagon Park’s perception was of the music industry in Sri Lanka post the TNL Onstage experience, and he says that the band knew that it was going to be hard and it still is for a Rock n Roll group to get recognised in the local industry. However they are hopeful with their debut album coming out, and the band hopes that their music will reach the local audience.
Stoned
Explaining more about their new album ‘Stoned’, Buddhi says that the album will include ten tracks, eight of which will be in English, one of them in English and Dhivehi (Maldivian) and one with Sinhala and English lyrics. Buddhi says that each song has interesting stories behind them and a sound of its own. The album will be available for online purchase and in a limited number of stores from March this year.
Inquiring more about the album, Buddhi says his personal favourite is the song ‘You Know’ and says that the song reminds him of the place and situation he was in when he penned that song, thereby recollecting personal memories whilst listening to the song.
Having being privy to hear the recording of ‘You Know’, which had the fusion of traditional percussions, Buddhi says that there are few more songs in the album where Wagon Park has collaborated with percussionists who played the Tabla and Dholki and other instruments, such as the sounds of the accordion in the track ‘Get Stoned’, which was played by Buddhi’s aunt, Ranshini Jayawickrema. The band also received the help of Raiza Saldin and Kusal Bandaranayake who did the harmonising during the chorus of the track ‘You Know’.
With the Band’s debut album being released and the journey they’ve taken to get to this point, Buddhi says that when he looks back at the years it took, the struggles and the money spent on it, it honestly feels great and makes each member proud about what they have achieved.
Buddhi says that there are many they’d like to thank for their success but frankly speaking, they mainly wish to thank their parents and families who have been there supporting them, understanding the struggle and still helping them. They also wish to thank their Manager, Sumedha Nuwan who has played a valuable part in their journey, and of course the fans, their friends, the sponsors and everyone else who have supported them throughout. They further thank the media organisations, the brilliant photographers and other fellow musicians, and Buddhi on behalf of the band says, ‘We thank and salute them all!’
Wagon Park is extremely grateful to their fans for bringing then to where they are now and the members know that their fans hold the power to take them further.
There is hope to give their fans more of their music in the years to come and they hope that the fans will stick with them, rolling the wagon.
All in a name
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